Chinese state media takes aim at United States over trade war

China's state media has continued a barrage of criticism aimed at the United States as their tit-for-tat trade war continues to escalate.
AP

by
Alexandra Harney

Shanghai | China's state media has continued a barrage of criticism aimed at the United States as their tit-for-tat trade war escalates, while seeking to reassure readers the Chinese economy remains in strong shape.

Commentaries in the People's Daily, China's top newspaper, likened the US to a bull in a China shop running roughshod over the rules of global trade and said that China was "still one of the best-performing, most promising and most tenacious economies in the world".

The commentaries come as trade tensions between the two countries intensify. China said this week it would put an additional 25 per cent tariffs on $US16 billion ($22 billion) worth of US imports in retaliation against levies on Chinese goods imposed by the US.

One commentary accused the US of "rudely trampling on international trade rules" and not taking into account China's lowering of tariffs and continued opening of its economy, among other things.

"People of insight are soberly aware that so-called 'America first' is actually naked self-interest, a bullying that takes advantage of its own strength, challenges the multilateral unilaterally, and uses might to challenge the rules," it read.

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Another commentary argued that the Chinese economy was stable and was expected to remain so.

In the second half of this year, "comprehensive deepening of reforms will continuously produce benefits." It said China could take steps to boost domestic demand while continued to cut corporate taxes and fees.

With these and other policies, "the Chinese market will show an all-new charm," the commentary said.

A separate piece in the People's Daily quoted vice agriculture minister Han Jun saying that if a trade war broke out, many other countries were willing and "completely able to replace American agricultural products' share of the Chinese market."

Earlier this week, Chinese state media accused the United States of a "mobster mentality" as it moved to implement additional tariffs on Chinese goods. Beijing had all the necessary means to fight back, the reports said.